EXTRACTION AND PURIFICATION OF FERULIC ACID AS AN ANTIOXIDANT FROM SUGAR BEET PULP BY ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS

Extraction of ferulic acid from sugar beet pulp was carried out using alkaline hydrolysis (NaOH) method and the effects of parameters on extraction were assessed. HPLC method and FT-IR spectrum of precipitate in purification method performed to proved that the isolated compound was ferulic acid. Finally the antioxidant activity of isolated ferulic acid was evaluated by ABTS.+ method. Time, temperature and NaOH concentration were the most significant factors influencing ferulic acid extracton and severe alkali concentration has a negative dissociation effect on the ferulic acid content for all temperature/time conditions. The optimal conditions for extraction time, temperature and NaOH concentration were (12 hours, 41[degrees]C, and 2 M) respectively. Antioxidant capacity for isolated and pure ferulic acid was 0.39[+ or -]0.01 and 0.55[+ or -]0.01 respectively. Its showed that sugar beet pulp is potent source of ferulic acid that can be extracted and use as an antioxidant. Keywords: antioxidant activity, ferulic acid, HPLC, response surface method, sugar beet pulp